WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.299 Well, again, let me welcome you, especially those of you who are visiting. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:16.899 We started a couple of weeks ago a series basically asking, exploring some of the ultimate questions of life, 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:20.640 questions that everybody wonders about regardless of what they believe, 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.120 questions to which our beliefs speak, 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:27.039 questions like where did all of this come from? 00:00:28.240 --> 00:00:29.320 Who are we? 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:30.559 Why are we here? 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:31.800 What are we here for? 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:34.700 How do we make sense of our lives? 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:39.439 How do we make sense of our work, our culture, our society? 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:43.480 How do we understand things like gender or sexuality or marriage? 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.019 How do we make sense of all of this? 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.679 And the Bible says if we want to understand these things, 00:00:49.760 --> 00:00:53.380 that the first thing we have to do is to go back to the beginning. 00:00:53.380 --> 00:00:56.120 We have to go back to the book of Genesis, 00:00:56.119 --> 00:01:00.459 and specifically the opening chapters of Genesis. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:07.140 The first 11 chapters of Genesis really lay the foundation for everything else, 00:01:07.899 --> 00:01:10.039 and particularly the first three chapters. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:13.979 And so this week we're continuing our study in this book, 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:15.700 looking at the opening chapters, 00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:21.260 and we're focusing on Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 through verse 25, 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:28.079 and we're seeking to understand the world as a whole, creation as a whole. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.039 This passage is very familiar to a lot of people, 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.599 primarily because of the debates that are inspired around it. 00:01:35.679 --> 00:01:38.319 You hear about the creation story in Genesis 1, 00:01:38.539 --> 00:01:40.640 and you immediately think of the debate, 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.420 or really the debate is a nice way to put it, 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:47.859 the battle that is perceived to exist between faith and science. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:51.840 And you think of Ken Ham and the evolution debate, 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.700 and we think of this tension that exists. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:01:58.560 As we said last week, 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:01.579 whenever we want to interpret the Bible, 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:03.680 not just this, but any place in the Bible, 00:02:04.600 --> 00:02:11.180 we have to be able to understand the mindset of the people who wrote it, 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:14.259 and the people to whom it was written originally. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:17.939 In other words, we have to be able to read ancient texts, 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:22.379 not through modern eyes, but through ancient eyes. 00:02:22.859 --> 00:02:25.740 We have to read ancient texts through ancient eyes. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:32.520 Genesis, along with all of the other ancient Near Eastern accounts of creation, 00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:34.900 when it was written, 00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:38.840 the prevailing questions and concerns in people's minds 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:42.280 had nothing to do with how things came to be. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:45.900 This was not written as a scientific document. 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:49.659 It was not written to explain the processes of creation. 00:02:51.700 --> 00:02:55.980 It was written to answer the far deeper and more fundamental question of why. 00:02:57.659 --> 00:02:58.140 Why? 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:01.099 Not how was all of this made, 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:04.939 but for what was all of this made? 00:03:05.420 --> 00:03:07.080 So it's not a science textbook. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:07.840 It's poetry. 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:09.460 It's poetry. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:12.000 And you can tell by the strophes, 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:12.700 the repetition, 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:13.980 the parallelism, 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:17.079 all of these structures here are poetic structures. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:21.519 So it was written to explain the question of why. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:24.000 And so with that lens, 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:25.099 putting that lens on, 00:03:25.179 --> 00:03:27.819 we're going to look at verses 1 through 25, 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:31.319 which are meant to help us understand the world we live in 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:32.359 and the God who made it. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:33.859 And specifically, 00:03:34.079 --> 00:03:36.219 it's going to show us three things about this world. 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:39.019 That God conceived it in love. 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:42.520 That God created it by His word. 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:45.320 And that God called it good. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:48.320 He conceived it in love. 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:49.900 He created it by His word. 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:51.200 And He called it good. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:53.780 Let's pray for God's help. 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:56.400 Our Father in heaven, 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:56.960 we do, 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:58.180 as we've, 00:03:58.660 --> 00:04:00.540 in our song and in our prayer, 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.840 acknowledge that we need Your word to lead us 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:07.479 to lighten our path, 00:04:08.200 --> 00:04:09.740 to illuminate our way, 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:13.400 to give us life that we cannot find here, 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:15.840 that we can only find in You. 00:04:15.920 --> 00:04:16.180 That Lord, 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:18.280 we pray these things would happen in us 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:20.519 as we open Your word together. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.740 And we ask this in Your Son's name. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:23.120 Amen. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.939 So the first thing we see 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:28.240 in the opening verses of Genesis 1 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:29.300 is this, 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:31.639 that God conceived this world in love. 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:32.899 It was conceived in love. 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:35.360 If you begin reading, 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:36.540 it says in verse 1, 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:37.180 in the beginning, 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.240 God created the heavens and the earth. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:40.620 So we have God. 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:41.819 There's God. 00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:44.639 The earth was without form and void, 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:46.800 and darkness was over the face of the deep, 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.420 and the Spirit of God 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:51.340 was hovering over the face of the water. 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:52.179 So we have God, 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:53.919 and then we have the Spirit of God. 00:04:54.299 --> 00:04:55.659 And the Spirit of God is hovering, 00:04:55.779 --> 00:04:57.479 and this is a beautiful Hebrew word 00:04:57.479 --> 00:05:01.279 that conveys the image of a mother bird 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:02.959 hovering over her young. 00:05:04.179 --> 00:05:06.099 And so it's an incredibly wonderful, 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.239 beautiful image, 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:11.000 kind of a familial image of care 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:12.039 and parental love. 00:05:13.239 --> 00:05:14.819 The Spirit of God is hovering 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:15.879 over the face of the waters. 00:05:17.219 --> 00:05:17.819 Verse 3, 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:18.919 And God said, 00:05:19.059 --> 00:05:19.819 Let there be light. 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:21.219 And there was light. 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:22.179 So we see, 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:23.859 unlike other creation myths 00:05:23.859 --> 00:05:25.779 and stories and accounts, 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:29.279 God speaks creation into being. 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:31.219 So you have the Word of God, 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:33.439 and when you look at places like John chapter 1 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:34.659 or Colossians chapter 1, 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:37.039 we see that Jesus is this Word, 00:05:37.159 --> 00:05:38.039 as Colossians says, 00:05:38.299 --> 00:05:39.919 through whom all things were made. 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:43.620 So here in the opening verses, 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:45.679 we have at the very beginning of the Bible, 00:05:45.919 --> 00:05:47.179 really before anything 00:05:47.179 --> 00:05:49.579 has been brought into being, 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:50.839 we have a creator, 00:05:51.979 --> 00:05:54.159 this God who is in his very nature, 00:05:54.599 --> 00:05:55.279 tri-personal. 00:05:56.539 --> 00:05:57.539 Three persons. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:59.759 One God, but three persons. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:01.439 You have a Father, the God, 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:03.159 and then you have the Spirit of God, 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:04.879 and then you have the Word of God, 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:05.839 the Father, the Son, 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:07.079 and the Holy Spirit. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:10.399 And you have this tri-personal being 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:15.199 that shows us that before anything existed, 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:17.699 everything that is, 00:06:17.719 --> 00:06:19.399 everything that is in this world, 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:20.339 including us, 00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:22.979 was conceived of or thought up 00:06:22.979 --> 00:06:26.339 in the context of a loving interpersonal relationship. 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:29.739 That's astounding. 00:06:30.739 --> 00:06:31.659 It's amazing. 00:06:31.719 --> 00:06:33.819 It's amazing when you think that that means 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:35.060 that love itself, 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:39.000 so the kind of love that exists between persons, 00:06:39.479 --> 00:06:40.739 was never created. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:45.359 Unlike virtually everything else, 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:49.719 love has always been, 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:52.460 has always been, 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:56.600 an eternal relationship of love. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.140 You know, it's radically different 00:06:59.140 --> 00:07:02.140 from the other ancient Near Eastern creation accounts. 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:03.040 Right? 00:07:03.280 --> 00:07:05.340 A common example that you may be familiar with 00:07:05.340 --> 00:07:07.060 is the Babylonian creation story, 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:07.700 Enuma Elish. 00:07:09.220 --> 00:07:11.180 And if you know anything about the plot of that story, 00:07:11.260 --> 00:07:12.360 this is the creation account. 00:07:12.460 --> 00:07:13.120 Guess what happens? 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:14.740 There's a lot of drama that ensues, 00:07:14.840 --> 00:07:16.620 but the real climax of the story 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:19.780 is Marduk kills his great, great, great grandmother, 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:20.300 Tiamat, 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:21.639 who happens to be a dragon. 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:24.319 And then he fillets her like a fish. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.160 And then he takes half of her corpse 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:27.620 and makes the sky out of it. 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:28.959 Okay? 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:32.800 Mom, Dad, why is the sky so beautiful at night? 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:34.399 Well, it's Tiamat's rotting corpse. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:36.620 That's really what you're looking at. 00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:39.120 So, you look at that account, 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.199 you look at these other accounts, 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:40.980 there's violence, 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:42.660 there's divine power struggles, 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:43.360 there's conquest, 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:45.579 there's sometimes rape and sexual assault, 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:46.659 there's all kinds of things, 00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:48.039 you know, divine copulation, 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:49.479 and God's playing tricks on each other, 00:07:49.539 --> 00:07:50.339 and betraying each other, 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:51.259 and killing their parents. 00:07:52.539 --> 00:07:53.680 And then you look at this story. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:57.839 An eternal interpersonal relationship 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:59.860 of perfect love. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:02.599 And that's the context 00:08:02.599 --> 00:08:05.539 from which all of this sprang into being. 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:08.839 So what's the implication of this for us? 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:11.620 The implication is this. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:14.459 The primary thing, 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:16.319 the primary thing, 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:18.540 in life, 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:20.079 the primary principle, 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.360 is interpersonal relationships. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:25.800 Relationships of love. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:29.579 Most of us, if we're honest, 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:30.280 most of us, 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.899 if we look at our own lives, 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:35.399 we know that relationships matter in theory. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:39.059 And most of us have a few people 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:39.740 that we're close to, 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:41.179 friends and family that we're close to, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.419 but most of us, 00:08:43.939 --> 00:08:45.639 even though we know relationships matter, 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:47.799 they really tend to take a backseat 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.500 to other things. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:49.860 I mean, in a place like D.C., 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:51.840 people don't come here for relationships. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.340 You come here for a job, 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.439 you come here for an internship, 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:55.419 you come here for school, 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.500 you come here to get credentialed in some way, 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.179 you come here to get a foot in the door 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:01.120 to a career that will probably lead you elsewhere. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:03.060 I know very few people 00:09:03.060 --> 00:09:04.539 that come here for relationship. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:06.799 I know more and more of you 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:08.960 are staying because of relationships. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.299 Because we're beginning to see 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:13.220 and to realize 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:16.700 that when we live a kind of life 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:18.159 where relationships are the things 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:20.240 we fit in around the margins, 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.259 you know, I have my job, 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:22.840 that's central, 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:23.519 I have my career, 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:24.259 I have my education, 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:25.100 those are central, 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:26.620 they get the best of me, 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:28.799 and then whatever leftover time 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.580 and energy I have, 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:30.980 I'm kind of fitting relationships 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:34.460 in when and where I can, right? 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.279 Relationships tend to be 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:37.940 the things we fit in. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:38.860 This is true for me. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:41.240 This is autobiographical, right? 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:44.000 But here's the thing. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.460 If love, 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:47.259 if interpersonal love 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.840 is the only thing here 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:49.820 that has always been 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:51.060 because it was in God, 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.159 in God's very nature, 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:55.440 and if that is the world in which 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.560 or the context in which 00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:58.039 all of this was conceived of 00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:59.860 and a loving interpersonal relationship, 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:01.680 then that is the primary thing. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.139 We talked a couple of weeks ago 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.759 about because God created 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.600 the heavens and the earth, 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:06.800 we know that there's a purpose, 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:07.560 there's a design, 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.240 there's a way 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.200 that it's meant to function. 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.300 And guess what? 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:12.440 At the very center of that way 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:13.399 is relationship. 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.340 It's relationship. 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:17.680 We're designed, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.399 the world is made 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:21.840 to revolve around relationship, 00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:23.480 relationship that exists 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.259 between us 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:26.259 and then between us and God. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:30.080 It's central. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.960 So if we want to live in a way 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.860 that reflects the kind of flow, 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:35.580 the fabric, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.279 the grain, 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:36.899 the texture 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:38.399 of ultimate reality, 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.799 if we want to be 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:41.779 radically countercultural, 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:44.399 what would it look like 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.639 to fit our job 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.379 and our school 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:47.259 and our credentialing 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.259 around relationships? 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.159 What would it look like 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:49.860 to make decisions 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.840 about where we live 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.679 and where we move 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.319 or whether we move 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.900 based primarily on 00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:56.960 the place where we're going 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.920 to have the richest 00:10:57.920 --> 00:10:59.100 relationships 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.560 with one another 00:11:00.560 --> 00:11:01.260 and with God? 00:11:01.920 --> 00:11:02.720 And that was 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.900 the central priority. 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:05.480 Not convenience. 00:11:07.580 --> 00:11:08.720 Not pleasure. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.020 Not necessarily success 00:11:10.020 --> 00:11:10.980 or career advancement. 00:11:11.640 --> 00:11:12.800 Not free parking. 00:11:14.020 --> 00:11:15.540 Not easily accessible 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:16.300 grocery stores. 00:11:16.400 --> 00:11:17.340 Not safer streets. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.400 But what if we made it 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:20.560 about relationship? 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:22.260 If that was the primary thing? 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.840 So this is the first thing 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.759 we see about creation. 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:26.399 God conceives this world 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.039 in love 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.319 and that tells us 00:11:28.319 --> 00:11:29.299 that loving relationships 00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:30.620 are the most important thing 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:31.759 there is. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.039 And then as we move on 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:33.500 in the text, 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:34.740 we see the next thing. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.679 God conceived this world 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:37.159 in love. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:39.279 He created it by His word. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.279 He created it by His word. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.860 Verse 2 says 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.639 that the world 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:45.740 was without form 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:47.100 and void. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:47.799 The Hebrew there 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:48.899 is tohu wabohu 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.879 or tohu vabohu. 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:52.019 In short, 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.120 this conveys 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:54.019 the idea of chaos. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.639 It's not nothing. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.639 There's something 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.379 but that something 00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:58.100 is chaos. 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:00.659 It's undifferentiated matter. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.659 It's useless, 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:04.679 functionless, 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.299 purposeless stuff. 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.320 And then what does God do? 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.299 God speaks. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.879 God speaks. 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.360 Let there be light. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.539 And then what does 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.980 His word do to the chaos? 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:18.259 His word brings 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.920 order to the chaos. 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:21.200 What does His word 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:21.920 do to the darkness? 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.940 It brings light 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.580 to the darkness. 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.300 So order to chaos, 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.460 light to darkness. 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:28.320 He takes this chaos 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.960 and He begins 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.659 to do what with it? 00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:31.300 He begins to differentiate. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:34.840 Chaotic matter, 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.980 He separates 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.920 and differentiates 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.340 and begins to assign roles 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.779 and functions to things. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:40.940 And so in day one, 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.080 we see God separating 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:42.820 and establishing 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:44.800 the rhythm of day and night. 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:45.600 This will be day 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.519 and this will be night. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.399 And night is not day 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.240 and day is not night. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:48.860 They're separate. 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.440 What's God doing? 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.620 A rhythm of day and night. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.399 This is the creation of time. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:56.440 Time. 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.220 You wonder why there's 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:59.279 evening and then morning? 00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:01.060 It's kind of weird. 00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.159 Why would there not be 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:02.899 morning and then evening 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:03.879 on the first day? 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.100 There's evening and then morning. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:06.040 It's because when God, 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.139 before God did this, 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.960 there was no day. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.180 There was no morning. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.320 And God does this act of creation 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:12.360 and the first thing to come 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.279 in this rhythm is evening. 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.060 And then morning. 00:13:15.959 --> 00:13:17.319 He's establishing time. 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:17.779 Day two. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.759 God separates the waters above 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.879 from the waters below. 00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:22.219 In the ancient Near East, 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.879 people believed that 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.019 there was a storehouse 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.939 of water above the sky. 00:13:27.119 --> 00:13:28.599 And that's where rain came from. 00:13:28.839 --> 00:13:30.339 And the object 00:13:30.339 --> 00:13:31.959 is not to correct the science. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.679 As we said, 00:13:33.719 --> 00:13:34.179 it's to answer 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:35.259 the deeper question of why. 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:35.959 It's theology. 00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:38.179 So God, 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.379 it says God separates 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.419 the waters above 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:41.099 from the waters below 00:13:41.099 --> 00:13:42.000 with an expanse. 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:43.059 And what will that expanse do? 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.539 It will regulate the rain 00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:45.500 and the wind. 00:13:45.599 --> 00:13:46.299 It will regulate 00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:47.779 the clear sky 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.379 and the clouds. 00:13:48.719 --> 00:13:49.379 What is God doing? 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.379 He's creating weather. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.419 Day one, time. 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.359 Day two, weather. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.219 Climate. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.699 Day three, 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.799 God separates land 00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.319 from water 00:13:59.319 --> 00:14:00.079 and then sets up 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:00.899 the processes 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.799 by which that land 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.919 will produce plants, 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:05.599 which then produce seeds, 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:06.619 which then produce 00:14:06.619 --> 00:14:07.419 more plants. 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.059 What's he doing? 00:14:08.359 --> 00:14:08.919 Agriculture. 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.079 Agriculture. 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:11.799 Time. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:12.879 Weather. 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:14.179 Agriculture. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.599 And these are the pillars 00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:16.539 of society. 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.059 And they're also 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:18.740 the three things 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.299 that to this day 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.539 with all of our great technology 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:22.240 we still can't control. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.059 Days four, five, and six, 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.039 God populates 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:27.179 these various domains. 00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:28.000 He populates 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.579 the day and the night 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:30.199 with the sun 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:30.599 and the moon 00:14:30.599 --> 00:14:31.000 and the stars 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.599 to do what? 00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:34.059 To help appoint 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.719 and measure 00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:36.659 the seasons 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.519 and the years. 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:40.079 Time, right? 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:42.879 He fills the sky 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.439 with birds 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.259 and the sea 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.740 with fish 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.500 and the land 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:45.979 with animals 00:14:45.979 --> 00:14:47.120 and then finally humans. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.059 And what we see 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:48.759 with all this 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.139 is this, 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.699 is that God's word 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.500 is bringing order 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.219 to chaos 00:14:52.219 --> 00:14:54.879 and that makes it possible 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.039 for life to flourish. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.639 God's word 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.599 orders the chaos 00:14:59.599 --> 00:15:00.579 and as a result 00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:02.259 life can exist 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:04.419 and life can flourish. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.159 So what is the implication 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.839 for us? 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:09.460 God's word 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.120 has power 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:13.139 and it can have 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.120 this same power 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.500 in our lives. 00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:16.980 The same power. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.740 If you notice 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:20.320 throughout Genesis chapter one 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.960 there's this poetic pattern 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.759 and normally 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.639 when there's a pattern 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.620 it means it's something 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.340 to be emphasized 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:26.560 and one of the patterns 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.759 in Genesis one 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.180 is this, 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.340 and God said 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.639 and it was so. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:32.200 And God said 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.400 and it was so. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.200 And God said 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:34.940 and it was so. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.360 It recurs 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.379 every single day. 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:38.660 And if we go forward 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.700 into the New Testament 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.399 we see this isn't 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.160 the only place 00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:42.259 that we see 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.399 this kind of language. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.420 Where else do we see it? 00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:48.000 When Jesus came 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.899 the first thing 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.639 that people noticed 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.060 about him 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:50.540 was what? 00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:52.180 We heard it 00:15:52.180 --> 00:15:52.800 in Luke chapter four. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.500 The authority 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.139 of his word. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.340 We've never heard 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.259 speaking like this. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.259 He speaks with authority. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.740 He says to the demon 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.160 come out 00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.060 and the demon comes out. 00:16:01.280 --> 00:16:02.120 He says to the storm 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.580 be still 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.500 and the storm stills. 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:04.400 He says to the man 00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.540 come out of the tomb 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.199 and the man rises 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:06.719 and comes out 00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:07.019 of his tomb. 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:07.759 He says take up 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.319 your mat and walk 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:08.639 and the man 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.279 takes up his mat 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.639 and walk. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.879 It's the same authority. 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:14.019 It's the same word. 00:16:15.839 --> 00:16:16.519 Here's the thing. 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.879 When we put our lives 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.199 under that word 00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:21.259 in other words 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.120 when we put our lives 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.439 under the authority 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.559 when we allow that word 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.919 to speak to us 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.839 in that way 00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:28.319 when we put our lives 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.599 under scripture 00:16:29.599 --> 00:16:30.199 when we 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.300 submit ourselves 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.180 to this power 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:36.200 we are submitting ourselves 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.020 to the very same 00:16:37.020 --> 00:16:38.080 creative power 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.259 that brought this world 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.520 into existence. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.280 The same creative power. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:47.259 Is Jesus the word 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.720 or is scripture the word? 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.200 Yes. 00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:51.360 This is why 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.100 this is why 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.500 Jesus in John 14 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.820 says if anyone loves me 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.100 he will obey my 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.200 word. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:57.759 Word. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.780 They're one and the same. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.600 What we're seeing here 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.340 is that just as God 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.700 created the world 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:07.319 he is recreating it 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.160 now 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.740 and he does that 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.980 through the word. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.180 Jesus 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.400 and scripture. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.299 The psalm we read earlier 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.340 Psalm 119 00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:20.400 verse 25 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.759 it's just kind of been 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.860 floating around 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.860 in my brain 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.900 in my heart 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.519 for the last several weeks 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.740 it's just really 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.819 stuck with me lately 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.099 verse 25 says 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.379 my soul clings 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.079 to the dust 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.599 give me life 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.599 according to your word. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.180 It's a confession 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.019 and then a petition 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.139 my soul clings 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.619 to the dust 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.400 that's the confession 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.440 that's the truth about me 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.279 my soul clings 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.819 to the dust. 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.740 What does that mean? 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:45.579 Here's the cruel joke 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:47.000 played on human beings 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.819 through the fall. 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:51.379 The things that I most desire 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.079 are the things 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.059 that will destroy 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.139 and bring chaos 00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.700 and darkness 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.400 into my life. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.799 the things 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.700 that will bring me life 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.160 are the things 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.160 that I least desire. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:01.859 Right? 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.799 Nobody who is married 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.859 is naturally 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:07.000 monogamously faithful 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.920 to their spouse. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.980 That doesn't come 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.319 we're not naturally 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:12.059 that's not our 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:14.099 our 100% of the time desire. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.119 We don't desire that 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.879 all of the time. 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:17.019 Every marriage 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.019 everybody who is in marriage 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.619 at some point 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:19.480 if you're married long enough 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.339 will have to deal 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.539 with some form of desire 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.019 for somebody 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.799 who's not your spouse. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.500 Why? 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.779 My soul clings 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.339 to the dust. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.140 Dust in the Bible 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:28.759 that's chaos 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.380 that's decay 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.400 that's death. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.640 My soul clings 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.059 to that. 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:33.579 Right? 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.519 Generosity 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.720 doesn't come naturally. 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.759 What comes naturally? 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.099 What's my instinct 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:39.759 with my stuff? 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.440 It's to hoard it 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.039 and protect it 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.680 so that I can have 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.240 more than you. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.880 My soul clings 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:46.480 to the dust. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.259 Forgiveness 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.500 doesn't come naturally. 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.700 Forgiveness brings life 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.160 and healing 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.640 and restoration 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.559 but it's hard 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.440 it doesn't come naturally. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.360 What do I want to do? 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.340 I want to hold a grudge 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.039 for 20 years. 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.740 I don't want to get 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.400 revenge on you. 00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.660 You hurt me 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.940 I want to get you back. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.380 That's what comes naturally. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:01.640 Why? 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.360 My soul clings 00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:02.920 to the dust. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.620 People say 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.380 well you know 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:05.160 some people 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.820 like obviously 00:19:05.820 --> 00:19:06.860 pastors must love 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.299 to read the Bible. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.160 I hate to read the Bible. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.460 No. 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:10.200 Nobody likes to read the Bible. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.940 You want to know why? 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:13.059 Nobody likes to read the Bible. 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.340 Naturally. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:14.860 Why? 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.039 Your soul clings 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.640 to the dust. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.640 Your soul clings 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.440 If everybody 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.680 loved waking up 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.480 and reading the Bible 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.100 and understanding 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.960 and applying it 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.920 you wouldn't need me. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.460 We wouldn't need 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.299 any of this. 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.880 The only way 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.480 the soul must 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.560 understand something 00:19:33.560 --> 00:19:35.140 that we need to understand. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.940 My soul clings 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.340 to the dust. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.960 The only way 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.519 out of that 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:37.920 the only way 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.940 to recapture 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.460 my heart 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.000 and recapture 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.580 my affections 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.299 and recalibrate 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.820 my desires 00:19:41.820 --> 00:19:42.920 is through the word. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.600 I've got to come 00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:45.080 under the creative 00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:46.080 recreative power 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:46.680 of that word. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.340 I've got to 00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:48.960 let that recreate me 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.980 from the inside out 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.039 so that I will desire 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.779 the things of life 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.620 and not the dust 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:53.220 and chaos 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.700 of death. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.259 Genesis 1 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.880 shows us 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.519 the power 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.039 of God's word 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.299 to order the world. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.620 Won't you let it 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.299 order your life? 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.839 Won't you let it 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.779 order your priorities? 00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:13.360 Won't you let it 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:14.599 order your values? 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.380 Your commitments? 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.559 Genesis 1 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:18.960 shows us 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.600 that God's word 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.380 makes it possible 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:21.039 for life 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.100 to flourish. 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.620 Let it 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:24.539 bring flourishing 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.440 life to you. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.100 How? 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.880 You have to put 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.620 yourself under 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.819 its creative authority. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.799 So God 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.840 conceived this world 00:20:33.840 --> 00:20:34.340 in love. 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.539 He created this world 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.539 by his word. 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:37.819 Two things 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.319 that we see. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.019 And then the third 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.500 thing we see 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.880 is this 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.360 that God 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.460 looked at all of this 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.519 and he called it good. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.380 He called it good. 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:48.160 And I love this. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.640 It says a little bit 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:50.860 later, 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.600 God saw everything 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.200 that he had made 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.559 and behold, 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.539 it was very good. 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.840 You've got to realize 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.799 the implications of this. 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.079 You know, 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.819 Eastern religions 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.420 tend to think 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.819 that the material 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.680 world is an illusion. 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.000 Right? 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.860 The whole purpose 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.640 of transcendental 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.180 meditation, 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.220 Buddhist meditation 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.720 and discipline 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.700 is to transcend 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.299 the illusion 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:08.960 of the material. 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.579 Right? 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.200 Those of you 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.019 who practice yoga 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.640 and love yoga, 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.380 the whole context 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.039 of the development 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.440 of yoga 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.960 is to help you 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.960 transcend the illusion 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.819 of the material world 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.839 to escape. 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.299 The Greeks 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.859 and the Romans 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.480 tend to think 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.740 that the material world 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.519 is real 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.279 but it's evil. 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.039 It's evil 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.279 and there's an idealizing 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.079 of the spiritual 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:31.759 and the hope 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.779 is to reject, 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.980 to reject 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:36.059 the evil material world 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:38.119 and to escape 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.960 to the spiritual. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:40.039 That sounds a lot like 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.939 the way a lot 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.720 of Christians talk 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.879 but that's not 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.779 what the Bible says 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.859 about the material world. 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.699 A lot of Christians 00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.599 think that way. 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.139 You know that song 00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.979 I'll Fly Away? 00:21:53.179 --> 00:21:54.559 That's not Christianity. 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.919 It's a great song 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:59.539 but it doesn't reflect 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.039 the truth 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.259 of what God's word says 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.079 about this world. 00:22:02.219 --> 00:22:03.059 Christianity is the only 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.740 religion there is 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.359 as far as I know 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.299 that says this world, 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.240 this material world 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.099 right here 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.899 is good. 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.979 It's good. 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:10.479 Right? 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.119 Though it's fallen, 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.839 though it's broken, 00:22:12.939 --> 00:22:13.599 though it's twisted, 00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:15.000 under all of that 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.579 it was fundamentally good. 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.559 Implications. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.839 What does this mean? 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.920 Christians should throw 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.619 the best parties. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.599 Christians should throw 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.259 the best parties. 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.319 I'm not even kidding. 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.559 The doctrine of creation 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.539 makes it possible 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.359 for us to have 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.380 an extraordinarily 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:39.400 balanced relationship 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.839 with the material world. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:44.019 The balance is this. 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.779 We can thoroughly enjoy it 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.319 without worshipping it. 00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:49.119 We can enjoy it 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.119 without worshipping it. 00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:50.819 On the one hand, 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:52.279 we know that this world, 00:22:52.419 --> 00:22:53.720 this creation story 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.179 tells us, 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.399 this world was meant 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.339 to be enjoyed. 00:22:56.459 --> 00:22:57.459 It was meant to be 00:22:57.459 --> 00:22:58.279 relished. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.039 It was meant 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.000 to be celebrated. 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:01.679 I mean, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.480 it's no coincidence 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.619 that Jesus loves 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.259 a good party. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.480 He was accused 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.679 of being a glutton 00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.679 and a drunkard 00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.659 because he always went 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.340 to these parties. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.980 And I don't think 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.640 he was sitting 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.140 in their corner 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.460 with his, 00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:14.660 you know, 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:14.940 kind of, 00:23:15.040 --> 00:23:15.160 oh, 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.500 you go ahead. 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:16.960 I don't think 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.640 he was doing that. 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:18.900 I think he was 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:22.060 enjoying good food 00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:22.779 and good drink 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.700 and good conversation 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.300 over the table. 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.560 He was enjoying himself. 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.320 The Son of Man 00:23:27.320 --> 00:23:28.440 came eating and drinking, 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:28.880 right? 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.580 It's no coincidence 00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.220 that he put 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.860 at the very center 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.860 of our relationship 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.320 with him 00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:34.060 the symbol, 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:35.640 the sacrament 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.380 of the meal 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.019 that we share. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.640 He could have 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.180 picked anything, 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.019 but he picked a meal. 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.180 Bread and wine 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.639 shared between friends. 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.519 It's no coincidence 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.500 that the image 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.980 that he uses 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.559 to tell us 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.480 what the new creation 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:46.980 will be like 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.099 is a great feast 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.740 the likes of which 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.559 we've never seen, 00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:50.660 the likes of which 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.599 we can't even imagine. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.119 Rich food 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.019 and landscapes 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.220 and sunsets 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.079 and symphonies 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.279 and the smell of rain 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.059 on hot pavement 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.200 and fall breezes 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.059 and all of that 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:02.180 is meant to be enjoyed, 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.680 it's meant to be celebrated, 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.980 it's meant to be relished. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.500 So Christians 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.220 should be great 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.599 celebrators of creation. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.720 We should love beauty, 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.400 we should love art, 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.119 we should love music, 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.079 we should love good food 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.660 and good drink, 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.279 we should love 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.400 all of these things. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.200 We should love them 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.799 and celebrate them 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.960 more than anyone else. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.420 You know this concept, 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.460 the joie de vivre, 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.960 Christians should exude 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.279 a joy of life. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.480 On the other hand, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:31.240 while this world 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.339 was made to be enjoyed, 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.119 it was not made 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:34.319 to be worshipped. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:37.099 Unlike many other religions, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:39.939 God is separate 00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:41.039 from his creation. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.000 The sky, 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.579 the stars, 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.700 the sun and the moon, 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.740 they're not gods, 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.500 they're things 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.299 that God made. 00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:48.720 The animals are not divine, 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.019 the trees are not divine, 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.919 the ocean is not 00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:52.419 a divine being. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.419 That's what Tiamat was, 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:56.079 the god of the ocean. 00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.899 God is none of these things, 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.039 God made all of these things, 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.819 God is thoroughly, 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.139 utterly, 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.079 completely separate 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.639 and holy, 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.599 which is what holy means, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.859 from his creation. 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.539 And what that tells us 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.359 is that while we should 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.139 enjoy creation, 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.379 we should never worship creation. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.200 We should never 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.480 make it our God. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.299 Romans 1 says 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:16.079 that's what's wrong with us. 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.359 Romans 1 says 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.819 it's because we started 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.519 worshipping the created things 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.619 rather than the creator 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:24.000 that has twisted our hearts. 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.819 So to be made right 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.819 with God through Jesus 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.000 is to have our hearts 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.000 made right, 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.200 to worship the creator 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:34.779 and not any created thing. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.099 We're designed to love 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.720 and worship God 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.519 above all else. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.919 That's what we need 00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.599 to flourish. 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.500 So you see this balance, 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:45.619 this balance that we're called to. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:48.079 We're neither ascetics, 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:50.359 living in a cave somewhere, 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.399 rejecting everything. 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.299 We're not called to be ascetics. 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.559 We're not called to be hedonists. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:57.940 We should enjoy, 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.799 enjoy the world 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.200 with the, 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.099 more than the hedonists 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.759 because we have the inner 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.259 detachment of the ascetics. 00:26:07.159 --> 00:26:07.819 You see? 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.299 It's precisely because 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.299 we don't need it, 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.659 because it isn't 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.559 the ultimate thing 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.319 because God is 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.980 and because we know 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.679 if we have God 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.440 we have everything. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.519 It's precisely because 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.319 we don't need it 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.119 that we are liberated 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.039 to enjoy it 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.279 more than people 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.059 who do need it. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:25.759 All of this language 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.279 about, 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:26.940 you know, 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.720 the Bible says 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.859 don't be worldly 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.440 and people say 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.500 well not being worldly 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.419 means all these things, 00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:31.619 you know, 00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.159 all the things 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.000 that I can and can't do 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.440 and all that. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:33.759 No. 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.359 What worldliness is, 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:38.379 what the warning there is, 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.940 is not telling us 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.980 to avoid pleasure 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.940 in this life. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.039 Worldliness is thinking 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.679 that the pleasure 00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:46.200 in this life 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.159 is the only thing 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.819 there is. 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:50.159 That's what worldliness is. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.440 It's forgetting 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.180 that this is just 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.880 a shadow 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.600 of what will be 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:56.940 in a consummated kingdom. 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.120 It's just a foretaste. 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.900 It's just the tiniest glimmer. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.160 See, 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.700 pleasure and joy 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.380 and desire, 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:02.920 those are things 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.259 that are meant 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.320 to point us 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:05.400 to God 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.019 and forgetting 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.000 that there's anything 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.680 out there 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.299 and thinking 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.080 that this is it. 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.960 That's worldliness. 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.600 There's a great 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.759 illustration of this 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.000 in, 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.920 I just re-read 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.860 the Space Trilogy, 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.080 C.S. Lewis' 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.860 Space Trilogy, 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.819 and the second book 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.719 is called Perlandra 00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:22.859 and it's about, 00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:23.619 and I won't spoil 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.219 the plot for you 00:27:24.219 --> 00:27:24.919 if you haven't read it, 00:27:24.979 --> 00:27:26.699 but it's about Ransom. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.679 His name is Ransom, 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.399 Dr. Ransom, 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.459 and he travels 00:27:29.459 --> 00:27:30.159 to a world 00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:31.000 that has not yet 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.859 gone through the fall. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.719 So you see a world 00:27:33.719 --> 00:27:34.539 as it would be 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.500 before the fall 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.259 and you see things 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.919 like desire 00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.479 and pleasure 00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:38.500 operating there 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.359 as they would 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.319 without sin, 00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:42.399 without the fall. 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.799 And one of my favorite parts 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.599 is when Ransom 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.519 has finally climbed up 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.099 onto the shore 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.319 and he's hungry 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.519 and he finds a gourd 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.039 and he takes this gourd 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.679 and he's not sure 00:27:51.679 --> 00:27:52.359 if he can eat it 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.179 and he's kind of 00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:53.699 feeling around 00:27:53.699 --> 00:27:54.179 and his finger 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.959 pokes through 00:27:54.959 --> 00:27:55.859 and kind of makes 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.419 this opening 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:56.939 and he sits there 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:57.539 staring at it 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.379 wondering if he should 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.379 sample it. 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.139 He's on a completely 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:01.659 alien world. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.500 He's understandably 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.839 cautious 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.839 and he's looking at it 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:06.179 and it says this, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.980 after a moment's hesitation, 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.639 he put the little aperture 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.319 to his lips. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.359 He had meant to extract 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.079 the smallest 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.279 experimental sip 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.539 but the first taste 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.440 put his caution 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.240 all to flight. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.279 It was, of course, 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:20.839 a taste 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.000 just as his thirst 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.399 and hunger 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.000 had been thirst 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.420 and hunger 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.200 but then it was 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.799 so different 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.039 from every other taste 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.599 that it seemed 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.399 mere pedantry 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.539 to call it a taste 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:28.920 at all. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.859 It was like the discovery 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.940 of a totally new 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.980 genus of pleasures, 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.180 something unheard of 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.799 among men 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:37.079 out of all reckoning, 00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.379 beyond all covenant. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.460 For one draft 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.399 of this on earth, 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.899 wars would be fought 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.980 and nations betrayed. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.899 And then it says, 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.039 as he let the empty 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.519 gourd fall from his hand 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.119 and was about to pluck 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.019 a second one, 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.279 it came into his head 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.960 that he was now 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.680 neither hungry 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.359 nor thirsty. 00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.819 Perfectly satisfied. 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.680 And yet, 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.420 to repeat 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.940 a pleasure 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.720 so intense 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.319 and almost 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.259 so spiritual 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.059 seemed an obvious 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.740 thing to do. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.559 His reason, 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.599 or what we commonly 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.480 take to be reason 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.420 on our own world, 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.259 was all in favor 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.380 of tasting this miracle 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:17.960 again. 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:20.460 But for whatever cause, 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.460 it appeared to him 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:23.240 better not to taste again. 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.299 Perhaps the experience 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.579 had been so complete 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:28.180 that repetition 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.559 would be a vulgarity, 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.579 like asking to hear 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.500 the same symphony 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.539 twice in a day. 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:36.200 And then here's the, 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:39.380 it concludes with this. 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.880 It says, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.960 after this experience, 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.300 he wondered how often 00:29:43.300 --> 00:29:44.500 in his life on earth 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:46.560 he had reiterated pleasures 00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.860 not through desire 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.460 but in the teeth of desire. 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.400 In the teeth of desire. 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.340 See, 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.800 this is what's possible 00:29:54.800 --> 00:29:55.900 when our relationship 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.680 with God 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:58.020 is righted. 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.920 And we love God, 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.660 we come through 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.240 his power 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.860 to love him 00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.660 more than anything 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.300 he's made, 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:05.880 even a nearly 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:07.100 spiritual experience 00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:07.540 of drinking 00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:08.200 from a gourd. 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:11.100 We can experience 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:11.600 pleasure, 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.559 we can experience 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.160 desire 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.799 to their fullest 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.720 of what they were 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.460 meant to be 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:18.420 without being caught 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.660 in the teeth of desire. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:20.740 See, 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.620 that's the paradox. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.840 You have to be free 00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.539 from it 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:25.180 to be able 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.180 to fully enjoy it. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.740 But the more 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.640 you come to need it, 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.799 the less you can enjoy it 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.299 because you're 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.420 enslaved by it. 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.220 So when our hearts 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.000 are put right 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:37.299 and when we realize 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.839 that we're made 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.640 to love the creator 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.700 and not the created thing, 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.460 we can enjoy 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:43.079 all created things. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.960 We can enjoy 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.799 all of them. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.099 And we can enjoy 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:49.180 them through our desire 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.940 which was made 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.660 for these things 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.099 because 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:54.220 we're not caught 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.019 in the teeth of them. 00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:56.099 We're not caught 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:56.480 in the teeth 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.200 of our own desire 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.000 because we recognize 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.200 that as Augustine said, 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.079 ultimately 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.980 our hearts 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.599 will be restless 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.559 until they find 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.099 their rest, 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:03.900 their peace, 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.500 their fulfillment 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:06.180 in the creator God. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.100 Right? 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:09.480 So as we look 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:11.120 at these verses, 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.680 we see three amazing 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.019 things about this world. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.759 Amazing things 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.360 about this world 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.220 that God conceived 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.460 this world in love, 00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:20.980 that love was always there, 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.700 that before anything 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.320 was made, 00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:26.400 these three persons 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.720 were in their love, 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:29.940 in their other glorifying, 00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:31.040 self-sacrificing, 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:32.140 other oriented love 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.700 that they shared 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.240 with one another. 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:35.819 They dreamed up together. 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.640 They dreamed up 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.680 the idea of you 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.519 and me 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.660 and all of this. 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.660 God conceived 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.299 the world in love. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.039 He created it 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.799 by His word, 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.839 His powerful word, 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.140 and then He called it good. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.279 And as we'll see 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.940 in the coming weeks, 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.380 as we said, 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.539 the world is fallen 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.220 as we are fallen 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.000 and things are not 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.140 the way they're supposed to be. 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.240 But the good news 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.839 is this. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.759 Here's the good news. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.779 That the same love 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.819 that moved God 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:02.099 to create all of this, 00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:03.539 that same love 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.519 has moved God 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.339 to rescue it 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.519 and to restore it. 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.799 That the same word 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.000 that created all of this 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.059 and brought it into being, 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.619 that same word 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.939 has now become flesh, 00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.439 has come among us, 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.519 and has given of life 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.799 to rescue us. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.740 And that because 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.799 of these things, 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.859 because of this love, 00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:21.819 and because of the word 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.659 become flesh, 00:32:22.919 --> 00:32:24.199 we know that just as God 00:32:24.199 --> 00:32:25.480 once looked at all of this 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.899 and said, 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.100 this is very good, 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:29.080 pronounced His pleasure 00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:29.920 in what He had made 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.640 in His workmanship. 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:32.780 So through Jesus Christ, 00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:34.960 God looks at each one of us 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.820 and beholds His workmanship 00:32:37.820 --> 00:32:39.560 and says, 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.940 this is very good. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.220 This is very good. 00:32:44.280 --> 00:32:44.940 Let's pray. 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:51.440 Our Father, 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.180 we do thank You 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:54.000 for Your Word 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.880 and thank You 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.940 for showing us 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:58.220 these deep realities 00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.299 of ourselves 00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.759 and the world 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.519 that we live in 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.960 and what they show us 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.519 about You. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.200 We thank You 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.900 for the eternity 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.779 and the beauty 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:09.299 and the primacy 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:09.920 of love. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.860 We pray that You 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.400 would bless 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.220 our relationships. 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.279 In particular, 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:14.240 we pray for those 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.319 without relationships, 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.579 who lack friends, 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.899 who are lonely 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:19.099 or don't have family. 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.000 We pray for all of those 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:23.399 that through Your power 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.440 and through this community 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:26.099 they would find a family, 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.519 they would find friends. 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.240 We pray that You, 00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:31.639 as You say in Your Psalms, 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:32.379 that You are the God 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.319 who sets the lonely 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.079 in families. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.740 We pray that that would happen 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.599 through this community. 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.899 Lord, we pray that Your Word 00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:39.700 would have power 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.599 in this place, 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.779 that it would be 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.119 recreating us, 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:45.160 as we submit to it. 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.099 And Lord, 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.899 we pray finally 00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:50.079 that we would have 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.000 such an awareness 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:51.899 of the goodness 00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.980 of what You've made, 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.819 that we would be 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:56.079 a celebratory people. 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.539 Lord, 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.519 that there would be 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.599 a joy and a richness 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.639 to our life together. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:01.799 And we pray that this 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.940 would not distract us 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.319 from You, 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.079 but that it would be 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.700 one of the ways 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.799 that we worship You. 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.279 And we pray this 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.219 in Your Son's holy name. 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:08.679 Amen. 00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:08.779 Amen.